DENVER -- Below zero weather in January? Isn't that to be expected?

It isn't that uncommon to see a few nights in January where the temperatures dip below zero with clear skies, light winds and fresh snow.

But prolonged visits of Arctic air -- where temperatures are so cold that the daytime highs stay at or below zero for several days -- is not as common.

In fact, it has been 10 years since Denver saw a day where the maximum temperature did not climb above 0 degrees.

Click here for a list of the 10 longest below zero streaks recorded in Denver.

The last time Denver saw a day where the temperature did not climb out of the negative numbers was in January 1997. On both the 12th and 13th, the high only managed 1 degree below zero.

Since Jan. 1951, there have only been 19 days in Denver with an afternoon high at or below zero.

"With highs expected to remain in the single digits this weekend at best, we can't rule out a repeat of one of those days in January 1997," said 7NEWS Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson.

Over the past 10 years, we have seen 6 January's with no sub-zero temperatures recorded in Denver. Those were 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2006.

Of those years, January 2003 never saw temperatures fall below 10 degrees. And January 2006 ended with the average temperature nearly 10 degrees above normal.

In both January 1999 and 2004 there was one night with below zero temperatures. In 2005 there were two nights with lows below zero.

"Despite the recent warm January's, when you look at the long-term data, it has earned it's reputation as the coldest month of the year," said Nolan Doesken, Colorado State Climatolgist. "Perhaps we are overdue for this type of cold."

It is important to note that January isn't the only month that can produce prolonged cold. December, February and occasionally November can bring below zero temperatures.

Both February 1989 and December 1983 brought record long cold snaps.

So will this Arctic invasion be as intense as January 1997?

We may not fall below zero for 50 hours, but it will definitely be one of the longest stretches of January arctic air we have seen since then.

Ironically, the 1997 blast came between Jan. 11-14, the same dates as this year.

There have been a few other long-duration arctic blasts in January, some lasting as long as 7 to 9 days. One of those was in January 1963.

Learn more about significant cold weather events in Denver during past January's and get daily extreme temperatures by clicking here.